Chapter 49
That evening, I returned to the mansion in a very good mood and received some good news.
“Rian left today?”
It was the news that Rian, who said a few days ago that he would leave the mansion and go to the Magic Tower, had finally left the mansion.
“Yes. He said he will be at the Magic Tower for more than a month. If you need anything, he asked that you visit or contact the Magic Tower.”
“More than a month!”
Until now, I had been sneaking out like a stray cat every time I went to the inn, worried about being spotted by Rian…
Now that I heard Rian had left, I finally felt at ease.
Sigh… now I feel like I can live.
After finishing my bath and changing into comfortable indoor clothes, I lay down on the bed and felt free.
Rian is not in this house.
For a while, I don’t have to worry about his favorability increasing.
While I was happily rolling around on the bed, Bell and Susan came into the room carrying trays.
Susan was holding a tray with a simple dinner, and Bell was carrying a tray with several letters.
“What are these letters?”
“They’re letters and invitations sent to you, Miss.”
I sat up on the sofa, grabbed a sandwich, and began to open the letters.
“All the ones on the right are invitations.”
“Hmm… there are more tea party invitations?”
More invitations from other noble families’ tea parties meant my social status was rising.
“It would be impossible to attend all these parties…”
However, if I ignored all these invitations, gossip would spread and my reputation would surely drop again.
“First, I have to choose.”
In the game, I had attended almost every social gathering, but I don’t have that much time now.
I started taking out the party invitations one by one from the tray and checking the family names.
“The Batrais Count family? No way.”
The eldest son of that family was Cainis’s right-hand man.
“The Karens Viscount family? No either.”
The Viscountess Karens was Nezwin Young Lady’s tutor.
After excluding risky invitations, only two invitations remained in my hand.
“The Lucari Viscount family and the Hamptas Viscount family…”
The Hamptas Viscount family was Rubyon’s, who was about to become a saint.
Honestly, not many would accept invitations to the declining Hamptas family’s party.
But just before the Hamptas family’s tea party in the game story, a prophecy was announced.
So many people would attend that party to get closer to Rubyon, the saint.
“In this situation, it wouldn’t be bad to build a relationship with the saint.”
Besides, the male leads did not attend parties related to the saint.
That was something I knew best, having followed the male leads around in the game.
“Tell them I will attend only these two parties. For the rest, send a letter saying I can’t come due to circumstances.”
“Yes, understood.”
Susan, who usually handled such matters for me, naturally took the invitations back.
“And what about these letters?”
“Well…”
When I pointed at the three letters left on the tray, Susan hesitated to answer.
Then Bell spoke up excitedly.
“These are letters from your marriage candidates and from Lord Bayron, the Marquis family heir.”
Just hearing those names made my head ache.
“Why are you even writing letters… you guys…”
Having heard the impressive names, I just glared silently at the three letters.
“Won’t you read them? You have to reply.”
Bell was right.
If I ignored their letters blindly, the servants would have to take responsibility, or it might even cause conflicts within the family.
Sigh…
I took a deep breath from my core and opened the top letter first.
I’m requesting the date we talked about last time. Please tell me a date that’s convenient for you.
— Cainis Spencer
Fliche, you must be surprised and happy to get this sudden letter, right? I know all about your feelings, so don’t worry. Because of my work with the Zodiac Guard, I might be on a business trip to the Spencer Duchy for a while. Don’t cry saying you miss me, just wait patiently. I’ll love you when I return.
— Dustin, who loves Fliche
Miss Fliche, I hear the Luceronia Count family’s carriage has been going around the Zodiac lately… Are you very busy? Surely you haven’t forgotten me…? I’m looking forward to the day I can meet you. P.S. I ordered a dress for you. The dressmaker will soon bring it to me, the Luceronia Count. I am waiting for the day you wear that dress and come to the theater with me.
— Troy, Fliche’s friend
My hand trembled thinly as I read the three letters.
“They must be crazy…”
Their voices vividly whispered in my ear like they were sitting next to me, sending chills up my arm.
“Since when did they become so aggressive?”
This damn paid membership was clearly designed to give favorability right away.
“Miss, are you okay?”
Susan looked worried as my face had turned pale.
“I’m fine… Could you bring me paper and a pen?”
Susan took out a pen and stationery from the desk, and I quickly wrote replies.
The weather was very nice this afternoon. But please be careful not to catch a cold as the night will be chilly.
— Fliche Luceronia
I wrote the same content in all three letters.
A polite reply that does not respond to anything in particular.
Honestly, they might be upset receiving this letter.
“If so, that’s better. Their favorability will drop.”
After finishing the letters quickly, I handed them to Susan.
“This is the reply to the letters. Please send them late tomorrow afternoon.”
Only after sending the letters away from my hands was I able to take a breath and eat the remaining meal.
Early in the morning, I arrived at the inn humming a tune and moved the water in the laundry tub.
The laundry mixed and spun naturally in the water that started rotating by my hand.
With my hand able to freely create and vanish water in midair, the laundry soon became clean and dry.
“All done! Laundry finished for today!”
I put the laundry with a fresh scent into the basket and stepped lightly out of the laundry room.
“Riche, you’re already done?”
The innkeeper asked admiringly, impressed at how fast I was every day.
“Yes.”
“Magic really makes things faster.”
Until yesterday, the innkeeper didn’t know how I finished laundry and dishes so fast, but after hearing I used magic, she realized I had been working with magic all along.
“Well then, I’m off to the mercenary training!”
“Alright, do your best.”
The courtyard I went to was still empty since training had not started yet.
Except for Henny practicing his stance with a sword at the far end of the yard.
“Hello.”
“……”
“Is it okay if I stay here? We’re supposed to train together starting today.”
“……”
Henny, that blond jerk, ignored me completely even when I greeted and asked him.
“What a jerk.”
Guess he’s living up to his reputation.
I glared at the rude Henny and sat on the steps next to where he was practicing.
“But he seems pretty good.”
I don’t know anything about swordsmanship, but Henny’s posture was upright and I felt strength in his sword movements.
“And those triceps. Not normal.”
Henny’s white tunic clung to his arm muscles that were clearly asserting themselves, and I swallowed involuntarily.
“By the way, you seem pretty good at swordsmanship. Why are you training with me?”
“……”
Even with my compliment mixed in, there was no answer.
Just as I was deciding not to talk to Henny anymore, mercenary members began to arrive one by one at the courtyard for the scheduled training.
“Oh, so this is really training.”
“Really? I thought it was a lie.”
The mercenaries murmured among themselves as they saw me in training clothes, then soon cheered me on.
“Good luck! If you endure it, it will be over.”
“Yeah. Just think you’re dead, and it’ll be over.”
“Don’t worry too much. Hurks wouldn’t be that harsh even on a woman, right?”
“Huh?”
